Greenspoint District offers incentives to apartments for crime prevention projects

From left to right: Al Aranda


The Greenspoint District Community Incentive Program (GDCIP) is the newest addition to an initiative aimed at involving the entire community in crime prevention.

GDCIP is available to apartments within the Greenspoint District boundaries and an application must be completed to qualify. The program will reimburse or make direct payments up to 110 percent for security improvements made as a result of a security survey and applied to the public right-of-way associated with the property.

“With more than 70 apartment communities in Greenspoint, it’s important that we work together on issues related to safety,” said Al Aranda, the District’s director of public safety. “We want to be a resource to our multi-family properties, adding value to their investment here. This program opens an opportunity to partner on projects that enhance the area and help prevent crime,” he added.

The GDCIP is based on the principles of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED). CPTED addresses physical features like adequate lighting, placement of access points and pathways, and maximizing visibility as ways to deter crime. For an apartment complex to be eligible, it must complete a CPTED survey along with other qualifications.

The new program is the District’s latest addition to a public awareness campaign designed to arm the community with information that can reduce the likelihood of being a victim of crime. Although the GDCIP targets the unique challenges of apartment communities, the District also works with local law enforcement and the com-munity to educate employees and residents on crime prevention techniques, earning the organization awards from both the Houston Police Department and the Texas Crime Prevention Association.

The application deadline for GDCIP is June 15, 2009. For details on qualifications and to download the application packet, go to www.greenspoint.org or call 281-874-2131.